Daily Digest: July 24

Our daily digest is a mid-day update on the stories we’re following in Texas politics today. Here’s what we’re watching:

Senate Set to Pass Slew of Bills:

After a whirlwind weekend of committee hearings, the Texas Senate is now trying to pass measures approved by the committees in order to quickly send them to the House. Sixteen bills are set to be heard on the Senate floor Monday. A measure to extend the work of the state’s Task Force on Maternal Mortality has already been initially approved by the full chamber. Senators are also set to debate school finance and choice issues, a bill to limit where transgender Texans can use the restroom and property tax reform, to name a few. Check out the full list here. Our Max Gorden is following the Senate proceedings and will have the latest on what happened tonight at 7pm.

House Action:

Meanwhile, the lower chamber took up and passed one of two sunset bills that would extend the lives of several agencies set to expire in September. After that, the House Public Education Committee is meeting to tackle school finance legislation. Our Jeff Stensland is following the House.

Teacher Retirement Benefits:

Retired teachers are hoping for some health care help during the special session. Legislation making its way through the Texas Senate would pump $212 million into the state-run health insurance system for retired teachers.

It would be paid for by delaying payments to health care companies that provide Medicaid through a privatized system. But even with the one-time additional money, the system will see a significant shortfall in the coming years. Tim Lee, executive director of the Texas Retired Teachers Association, joins us at 7pm to discuss the importance of the additional dollars and the continued concern over the projected shortfall for the future.

On the Agenda:

The Quorum Report’s Harvey Kronberg will also be in with his take on how the special session is going so far, including the politics at play.

Let’s keep the conversation going on our political blog! Capital Roundup is an extension of the interviews, debates, analysis and commentary seen on our nightly political show, Capital Tonight. We invite you to join the discussion.

Capital Tonight airs live every night at 7 p.m. with a replay at 11 p.m.